Unit Conversion Guide: Quick Reference for Common Conversions

Unit conversions are something most people need regularly, whether you are cooking with a recipe from another country, traveling abroad, or working on a project that mixes metric and imperial measurements. This guide covers the most common conversions you will encounter.

Length Conversions

Metric to Imperial

Imperial to Metric

Quick Tips for Length

• 1 inch is about 2.5 cm (exactly 2.54)

• 1 meter is about 3 feet 3 inches

• 1 mile is about 1.6 km

• 5 miles is approximately 8 km

Weight Conversions

Quick Tips for Weight

• 1 kg is about 2.2 pounds

• 1 pound is about 454 grams

• 100 grams is about 3.5 ounces

Temperature Conversions

Temperature conversions are a bit different because they use formulas rather than simple multiplication.

Celsius to Fahrenheit

F = (C x 9/5) + 32

Fahrenheit to Celsius

C = (F - 32) x 5/9

Common Reference Points

Quick Estimation Trick

For a rough Celsius to Fahrenheit conversion: double the Celsius temperature and add 30. For example, 20C becomes approximately 70F (actual: 68F). It is not exact but works well for everyday estimates.

Volume Conversions

Cooking Conversions

• 1 US cup = 237 mL (approximately 240 mL for easy math)

• 1 tablespoon = 15 mL

• 1 teaspoon = 5 mL

• 1 US gallon = 3.785 liters

Speed Conversions

When to Use a Converter Tool

While these tables and formulas work for common conversions, a digital converter tool is faster and eliminates errors for less common units or chained conversions. Our Unit Converter handles length, weight, temperature, volume, speed, area, and more with instant results.